Capital Theatre

Relic of Old Beijing

During the last 50 years, masterpieces that depict restless civilian life have made Capital Theatre the cradle of classic plays and genius actor. Many plays that premiered here in the 1950s have become landmark creations in contemporary drama.

Chaguan by Lao She and Leiyu by Cao Yu both debuted at the Capital Theatre.

The notion of renyi still resonates today, not only as a brand for decent plays but a gathering place of artistic youth. Visit the nearby Sanlian Bookstore in Dongsi and then hunt for traditional foods in the hutong. Finish the day with an evening show at the capital theatre for a pleasant weekend in Beijing.

22 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng

4006655501

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Take Bus 103, 104, 108 or 111 to Dengshikouxi and walk north 250 meters.

Worker’s Stadium

Songs for 60,000

A concert at Worker’s Stadium is the dream of every Chinese pop singer.

Built in 1959, Worker’s Stadium hosts a lot more than national sporting events. It was home to all kinds of live concerts before the construction of the Bird’s Nest and Mastercard Center in 2008.

The stage played host to pioneers of Chinese rock like Cui Jian and Heibao Band.

The stadium is constantly offering different styles of music with many artists visiting from abroad. From 1997 to 2008, Worker’s Stadium hosted performances by artists from Hong Kong and Taiwan such as Eason Chan, Jay Chou and Leehom Wang.

In Labor Stadium, you can find Bossa Nova by Japanese singer Lisa Ono or roar along with 60,000 others during a live show with Jessie J and Akon.

Gongren Tiyuchang Bei Lu, Dongzhimen, Dongcheng

(010) 6502 5505

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Take Bus 113 or 118, get off at the Gongrentiyuchang stop and walk west about 180 meters west.

Forbidden City Concert Hall

Concerts & Chorus

The Forbidden City Concert Hall is found inside Zhongshan Park, the bridge between the Forbidden City and Zhongnanhai. The hall holds more than 300 performances each year and is the home of the China Philharmonic Orchestra and Beijing Symphony Orchestra.

With soft seats and insulated walls, the hall is one of the best symphony venues in China. Most concerts consist of tunes by a specific composer such as Mozart or Beethoven, though there are also theme concerts like Memorial Soundtracks of Hollywood.

Musicians and musicologists often visit the Forbidden City Concert Hall to lecture on musical genre or the cultural interpretations behind the songs. A professor from Tianjin Music Academy and frequent speaker shares stories about the relationship between music and scholars in ancient China.

Zhongshan Park, Dongcheng

(010) 6559 8285

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Take Line 1 of the subway and get off at Tian’anmenxi Station. Follow Exit B and walk 5 minutes east to reach the south gate of Zhongshan Park. The hall is in the northwest corner.

Chang’an Grand Theatre

Essence of Chinese Culture

Chang’an Grand Theatre is an old name in Beijing. Built in 1937, the theatre is associated with the Four Dans of Peking Opera: Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, Shang Xiaoyun and Xun Huisheng.

The original building in Xidan was demolished in 1989. The current location at Jianguomen is a restoration completed in 1996. Shows at the new theatre are designed for tourists to make use of a multi-functional stage with lifts and revolving platforms.

The new theater is capable of putting on extraordinary performances based on classic plays like Jiangxianghe and Bawangbieji.

7 Jianguomen Nei Dajie, Chaoyang

(010) 6552 6892

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Take Bus 1, 4 or 10 to Jianguomen stop. The theatre is 420 meters to the north.